16 PRACTICAL BAIT CASTING 



One of the merits of casting from the reel is the 

 amount of water one can fish in a comparatively short 

 time. For example, by anchoring his boat in the mid- 

 dle of a pool, one hundred and fifty feet in diameter, 

 the caster can fish it all simply by casting 75 feet in 

 each direction. Or when fishing from shore, he can 

 easily fish 60 to 80 feet, up, down, and across the 

 stream, without disturbing the water by wading or us- 

 ing a boat, or permitting the fish to suspect that one 

 of the man-tribe is in the vicinity. Also by using weed- 

 less hooks he can fish in the weeds where it is often 

 necessary to go in order to catch fish. 



Besides the baits used in casting from the reel are of 

 such a size that they are easily seen by the fish while 

 they are in the air. One will realize the importance 

 of this, if he will notice that the eyes of game fish, 

 especially black bass, are placed near the top of their 

 heads as they feed from the air as well as from the 

 water. We have seen bass make a dash to get to a 

 bait, while it is yet in the air, the same as an outfielder 

 funs to get under a long fly. Furthermore, this size- 

 able bait makes a splash when it strikes the water 

 which attracts the fish from a considerable distance 

 and very often lures or angers them into striking. 



Likewise the method of retrieving the bait, with the 

 reel, permits regulating the speed and depth it travels 

 to suit prevailing conditions. Finally, the mere me- 

 chanical process of casting a bait is pleasureable. As 

 a youngster whom we taught to cast, puts it, "Its just 



